Nuclear Security Specialist

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?
For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent - Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.
It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?
AWE has an exciting opportunity for a Nuclear Security Specialist to join our Nuclear Threat Reduction (NTR) Operations Team, bringing their experience to AWE and to successfully playing a key role in delivering for our customers.
Nuclear Threat Reduction supports Government organisations in exploiting AWE's wealth of radiological and nuclear knowledge, developing and delivering national security capabilities in support of the UK CONTEST Strategy.
Nuclear Security Specialist - NTR Operations
Location: Reading
Salary: £33,770 - £42,000 (dependent on experience)
Closing Date: 20th April 2024
As part of our People Promise, AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (plus every other Friday off work)
  
• Consideration for flexible working arrangements so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time
  
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training
  
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
  
• A generous defined contribution Group Personal Pension (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution)
  
• Life Assurance
  
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending
  
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family
  
• A host of voluntary & core benefits to suit your health and wellbeing - more information available on our careers site
  

This role in NTR Operations is suitable for graduate and experienced hires alike, and will heavily utilise soft skills, engaging with policy makers, technical specialists, and end-users. A strong team working ethic and understanding of scientific process and technologies is helpful, particularly nuclear weapon-related sciences, radiation detection technologies, emergency planning, weapons effects, forensics, render-safe techniques, electronics, or computational modelling.
The candidate will need to work in a dynamic and team orientated environment, sometimes working in a hands-on role.
We would welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate knowledge or experience in the following:

• Physics
  
• Mechanical Engineering
  
• Electrical Engineering (including electronics technicians or similar)
  
• Computer science
  
• Disaster/Emergency Management (including planning, coordination, or response)
  
• CBRN Sciences (particularly in Operational Deployment, or in Technical Support)
  
• Nuclear security or counter terrorism
  
• Maintaining operational equipment (particularly deployed/operational sensors)
  

Key Accountabilities:

• Undertaking operational capability development tasks to schedule, cost and quality in support to the Nuclear Threat Reduction (NTR) Operations programme.
  
  • Support the development and deployment of the AWE operational response capabilities,
    
  • Support training of police and military responders, and the development of their capabilities, ensuring that they are equipped to deal with high-threat national security environments.
    
• Supporting the development of an overarching configuration control and maintenance for specialist detection instruments; applying appropriate policies and techniques to ensure they are appropriately maintained, stored and configured against agreed processes and procedures.
  
• Completing specific operational planning, capability development or capability management tasks, including:
  
  • Operational assessment and analysis,
    
  • Options studies for operational capabilities,
    
  • Preparing, issuing, and maintaining plans for operational response, capability management, and validation exercises,
    
  • Analysis, development, design and delivery of training courses for NTR operational responders, NTR staff and national security end-users,
    
  • Procurement, configuration and through life management of operational equipment and other assets,
    
  • Supporting quality assurance in areas such as electrical testing and calibration of instruments ,
    
  • Planning delivering and reporting on exercises and associated validation activities,
    
  • Capturing and recording lessons and gaps identified and coordinating action plans,
    
  • Providing UK government policy partners, and operational end-users, including the military, police and other emergency response partner agencies with timely and accurate advice,
    
  • Providing a fit for purpose technology or capability used by the operational response team that meet customer expectations (including configuration, maintenance and quality control).
    
• The requirement of this post may also require the successful applicant to undertake travel across the UK and also abroad if required; and to work extended periods away from home.
  
• AWE may require you to fulfil any other reasonable duties aligned to your position from time to time, in line with business needs.
  

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role.
Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.